Mr. Piste
ArboristSite Lurker
Greetings and salutations!
I am in the midst of rebuilding a Stihl MS361, and am installing a brand new OEM top end (as the last one was shish kabobed as the result of a disconnected impulse line). I have decided to replace the old and worn crank seals as a precaution against possibly burning up aforementioned top end (nothing would frost me more). I started with the PTO side. I applied a bit of Stihl Ultra on the crank bearings, and made darn sure that there wasn't even the smallest spec of dust present in the assembly before I installed the new seal. The new seal went in without any trouble, but I realized once I had gotten it into place that I had forgotten to lubricate the seal in any way, whatsoever. There was a small amount of Ultra on the crankshaft in and around where the seal sits when I installed it, but there is nothing around the garter spring, and all in all there sure isn't what I would call a thorough coating of oil anywhere on the seal.
So my question is should I pull the seal and replace it? What exactly will happen if I run it the way it is? I'm not too keen on burning up a brand new top end, and if replacing the seal is the answer, then I can do that no problem. Interestingly enough, the seal I removed (installed in the factory) was as dry as a desert.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I am in the midst of rebuilding a Stihl MS361, and am installing a brand new OEM top end (as the last one was shish kabobed as the result of a disconnected impulse line). I have decided to replace the old and worn crank seals as a precaution against possibly burning up aforementioned top end (nothing would frost me more). I started with the PTO side. I applied a bit of Stihl Ultra on the crank bearings, and made darn sure that there wasn't even the smallest spec of dust present in the assembly before I installed the new seal. The new seal went in without any trouble, but I realized once I had gotten it into place that I had forgotten to lubricate the seal in any way, whatsoever. There was a small amount of Ultra on the crankshaft in and around where the seal sits when I installed it, but there is nothing around the garter spring, and all in all there sure isn't what I would call a thorough coating of oil anywhere on the seal.
So my question is should I pull the seal and replace it? What exactly will happen if I run it the way it is? I'm not too keen on burning up a brand new top end, and if replacing the seal is the answer, then I can do that no problem. Interestingly enough, the seal I removed (installed in the factory) was as dry as a desert.
Thanks in advance for any help!